On Jul. 1, 1947, the National Malaria Eradication Program commenced. The Program was a cooperative of state and local health agencies from 13 southeastern states and the CDC.

It consisted primarily of DDT application to the interior surfaces of rural homes or entire premises in counties where malaria was reported to have been prevalent. By the end of 1949, more than 4,650,000 house spray applications had been made. It also included drainage, removal of mosquito breeding sites, and spraying of insecticides.In 1949, the country was declared free of malaria as a significant public health problem.